Trace-fastener.



no. 995,299. Patenta -marf u, |902.

W. FREELAND.

TRACE FASTENEB.

(Application lsd Jan, 27, 1902.) (No Model.)

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WILLIAM FREELAND, OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK.

TRACEHFASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent No. 695,299, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed January 27, 1902. Serial No, 91,391. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FREELAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented a new and Improved Trace- Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a means for fastening traces to the singletrees of vehicles, such as previously patented by me February 17, 1880, Serial No. 22t,673; and the object is to provide a spring catch which while cheaply constructed will be so durable as to stand the hard usage 'to Which it is necessarily subjected and also effectively hold the trace and permit its-ready attachment and detachment when desired. These ends are attained by certain novelties of construction, principally among which is Ythe manner of mounting the spring so that it acts effectively and is yet fully protected from exposure of all sort.

This specification is an exact description of one example of my invention, while the Claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure lis a longitudinal sectional view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2, showing the invention applied; and Fig. 2 is plan view of the invention.

a indicates the singletree, and b, Fig. 1, the trace.

c indicates the neck of the trace-fastener, with whichneck the trace is engaged.

The fastener as here shown is held on the singletree bya screw-tang d, but a ferrule or other means may be employed, if desired.

From the neck c of the fastener project two parallel arms e, running longitudinally of the singletree, and between these arms is formed in the neck portion c a cavity f, having at one side a wall f and at the other side a Wall f2,

at the base of which latter wall is a slight notch f3.

g indicates the dog, which, lies between the arms e and is pivoted at its outer end on a pin g. The inner end of the dog gis formed with a tongue g2, designed to engage the wallf and limit the upward or swinging movement of the dogl The outer portion of the dog is formed with an inwardly-directed bill g3, the catch of which runs upward past the pin g.

h indicates the spring, which is of leaf; form and is jumped into the space between the arms c, its outer end being engaged in the crotch of the bill g3 and its inner end engaged against the wall f2 and within the notch f3. The spring is bowed by this arrangement, and owing to the manner of its engagement with the dog it throws the dog into the position shown in Fig. 1, allowing it, of course, to move back under superior pressure during the emplacement or displacement of the trace. By this construction the spring is securely held and fully protected from rough usage, since it lies wholly between the armse and cannot be struck and broken or jarred out ofl place; also, the spring thus arranged requires norivet or other fastening to hold it in place. The arms e may be rounded intermediate their length to prevent ice and slush from accumulating between them.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A trace-fastener, comprising the combination with the neck or body portion, of the two arms projecting therefrom, said neck or body having a cavity between the arms, a dog pivoted between the arms and having a bill thereon, and a spring iitted in the space between the bill and the said cavity, the inner end of the spring being held in the cavity by the pressure of the spring.

2. A trace-fastener, comprising the combination with the neck or body portion, of the two arms projecting therefrom, said neck or body having a cavity between the arms, a dog pivoted between the arms and having a bill thereon, and a spring fitted in the space between the bill and the said cavity, the inner end of the spring being held in the cavity by name to this specification in the presence of he pressurenof the sping, and said cavity two subscribing witnesses.

a'vn@ a. Wa at one si e and a conczwit or notchbjust inward of the wall, the inner nd A WILLIAM FREELAND' 5 of the spring bearing' in the notch and against Witnesses:

the wail. v J oHN RILEY,

In testimony whereof I have signed my 1 JOSEPH ENGLORT. 

